Striking mechanism for clocks.



J. LAPONE,

sRlKlNC MECHANISM FoRcLocKs. A APPHCATION FILED AR. 18 1917- 1,264,817.

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Patented Apr. 30, 1918.

J. LAPONE.

'smKlNG MECHANISM FOR CLOCKS,

APPLICATION FLED APR. I8 1917.

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.wf JY E B 1. LAPONE.

STRIKING MECHANISM FOR CLGGKS.

APPLICATION .FILED APK. 18, 1911.

1,264,817, Patented Apr. 30,1918.

SSHEETS-SHEET 3." y

INV EN TOR.

A TTORNEYS.

JOSEPH LAPONE,

OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

STRIKING MECHANISM FOR CLOCKS.

Application filed April 1S, 1917.

nism for Clocks, of which the following is a specification.

This inventionrelates to time clocks, having mechanism designed to sound the hours and other determined periods of time, and the main object of the same is to combine with the striking or sounding mechanism `means whereby the different divisions of time will be understood by different sound strokes.

Another object of the invention is the provision in a clock of mechanism capable of producing such differences in sound and such differences in strokes that the hearer will be able to determine exactly by the sounds and strokes the particular divisions of time.

With these and other objects in View, the invention resides in the details of construction, and in the combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and shown in the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specication, and in which Figure l is a view in front elevation of a fragmentary portion of the time clock, illustrating an embodiment of my improved striking mechanism.

Fig. 2 is a diagram in front elevation, illustrating how my improved mechanism is connected with associated and coperating parts, the mechanism being shown as it appears when about to sound a division of time.

Fig. 3 is a view similar to that of Fig. 2, but illustrating the mechanism as it appears when sounding a division of time.

Fig. 4: is a view in side elevation of a fragmentary portion of a time clock embodying my mechanism, certain parts being shown broken away in order more clearly to illustrate other parts.

Fig. 5 is a detail view of the peripherally notched wheel for measuring off the periods of time for the proper eXecution of the sound strokes,` a portion of the notch engaging lever also being shown.

With more particular reference to the accompanying drawings the numeral 10 denotes the metallic skeleton frame which is Specification of Letters Patent.

`clock frame 13.

Patented Apr. 3o, 191s.

Serial No. 162,872.

employed to support the operating mechanism in the usual way, the said frame being rigidly supported by brackets as 11, attached to supports as 12, carried by the This skeleton frame 10 may be of any ordinary construction and may be supported in the clock frame 13 1n any manner common to the art. As the general operating mechanism herein illustrated is similar to that of ordinary clock constructions having a pendulum, and having means for sounding divisions of time, it is deemed necessary to make only such brief description thereof as will enable those familiar with the art to comprehend how my improvement for differentiating between the different divisions of time are connected with and operated by the wellknown mechanisms.

The type of clock herein considered has two trains or systems of wheels-one for operating the pendulum, and, resultantly, the hands; and the other for operating the striking mechanism. Each train or system is Operated by its own main spring, and accordingly will be traced separately. As my improvements relate in part to each system, they will be so described in part in connection with the tracing of each system. A fterward their coperative action will be described.

As best shown in Fig. 1 the train of wheels for the operation of the pendulum and also of the hands consist of a spring motor driven wheel 14:, a pinion 15, a wheel 16 fast therewith, a pinion 17 in mesh with the wheel 16, a wheel 18 fast with the pinscape-wheel 22 representing the one upon which the escapement 23 operates for the reciprocation of the pendulum 23 in the usual way. The wheel 16 also meshes with the pinion 24 which is fast on the minute hand shaft 25 for the rotation of the clock hands (not shown). All of said wheels are fast upon suitable shafts, rotatably secured in the skeleton frame 10 in the customary manner.

Fast upon the minute shaft 25 in front of the frame 10 is a pinion 26 in mesh with a' wheel 27, which carries on its outer face near its toothed periphery three projecting pins as 28, the purpose of which will be later described. Revolublc upon the minute shaft 25, in front of the pinion 26, is a sleeve 29 carrying on its inner end a wheel 29 which meshes with a pinion 30 'fast with the pin Wheel 27 and rotatable therewith e upon the stud 31. Thus, with the traink in operation, the sleeve 29, which operates the hour hand, is driven by the minute shaft 25 through pinion 26, pin wheel 27, pinion 30, and wheel 29. The shaft 25, and accordingly, pinion 26, is driven at the rate of one revolution per hour; the pin wheel 27 is geared so as 'to make one revolution every three hours; and the wheel 29 is geared so as to turn the sleeve 29 once in every twelve hours.

Turnable upon the skeleton frame lO below the pin wheel 27 is a disk wheel 32 having eccentrically secured upon its face the angular rod 33, the lower end of which is provided with a weight or hammer 34, the purpose of which to strike the bell 35 when a division of time is to be sounded, as will be later described. Secured to the rod above the wheel is an angular rod 36 which extendsupwardly in an inclined direction and which is prolonged at its top end into an inwardly and downwardly projecting portion 37, lying normally beyond the corner end of the skeleton frame 10, as bestshown in Figs, 1 and 3.

As the wheel 27 revolves, 'the pins impinge successively upon the upper end of the rod 33, which end lies normally in the path of said pins. lach time a pin impinges upon the rod, the disk 32 is turned on its aXis raising the hammer 34 above the bell 35. When the hammer 34 has thus been raised, the pin under the revolution of the pin wheel 27 passes over the end of the lrod 33, so that the hammer 34 urged by a pull spring 38 fast with rod 36, drops down quickly, striking 'a blow upon bell 35, and sounding the same. This action occurs each time a pin as 28 impinges the rod 33, or in other words, under the present construction, it occurs at a predetermined time on every hour, since the pins are equi-distant from each other, and since the pin wheel makes one complete revolution every three hours. Conjunctively with each raising of the hammer rod 33, the inclined rod 36, fast therewith, is pulled inwardly as shown in Fig. 2, so that the projecting end 37 is drawn over 'the corner oli the skeleton frame 10; and immediately the hammer 34 strikes to sound the bell 35, "the said end 37 is again drawn beyond the corner of the skeleton frame 10 to its normal position. Thus, l arrange for the sounding of the bell 35 at predetermined periods through the operation of the wheel 27, and for Vthe simultaneous operation of the lever 36 for a purpose to be later "described.

The train of wheels for operating the usual striking mechanism for indicating the hour and half-hour divisions of time will now be described. This clock-train or system is like that usually employed: for this purpose, and no improvements are claimed therein, except in connection with the governing wheel for controlling the number of sound strokes.

As best shown in Fig. 4, the wheel 40, fast upon the shaft 41, is driven by the main spring 42, the ratchet wheel 43 and cop`erat-2 ing dog 44 acting against the tension of Vthe main spring 42 to hold it in operative position in the usual manner. The said drive 'wheel 40 meshes with the pinion 41 tast with the wheel 42 upon the shaft 43 revolubly secured in the skeleton frame.,-

The wheel 42 meshes with ythe pinion 44 fast upon the shaft 45, also revolubly mounted in the skeleton frame. Fast with the pinion 44 is a wheel 46 which is 'equipped near its toothed periphery with siX outwardly projecting pins as 47, each equi-distantly spaced from the other. This wheel 46 meshes with the pinion 48 fast upon 'the revoluble shaft 49, which' on its opposite end carries a disk 50 'having a notch 51 cut in its periphery. Also yl'ast upon this shaft and with last said pinion is a vwheel 55,-in'

mesh with a pinion 56 fast 'on the revoluble shaft 57, 'which liXedly 'carries a fan element 58. p y

Fast upon the shaft 43 at the rear side of the skeleton frame 10 is a wheel 59 Awhich 'meshes with a wheel 60 rotatable 'upon a stud shaft '61. FiXedly secured to 'the hub lof the wheel 60 and rotatable therewith upon stud y61 is the governing wheel 62, which controls, by means of its peripheral system of notches, the sounding of the strokes for the hour and halihour "divisions of time.

This governing wheel 62 is arranged in such manner `as to make'one exact revolution in each 'period of twelve hours, and it is provided on its .periphery with a system 'of notches 63 which `are spaced apart at successively increasing -distances by two, in such manner as to form sections or lands on the periphery, 'eac-h successive two of which are relatively longer in *length than their predecessors. Obviously, the purpose of this is to 'compensate for 'the increasing series of numbers from one to twelve, both on the hour and -on the halt-hourf; 'but i-t 4is important 'to note here that sinceboth at one oclock and at half-past one, Ythis striking mechanism is required to operatevonly once, no sections' or -lands 'appear for these corresponding positions. instead Ithe whole space, without lands, is represented. by a and b. Following 4this space, the letters c andd represent the sectors or lands 5of that length necessary 'to enable the clock to strike two oclock and half-past two, respectively;

the lands e and f are longer to enable the clock to strike three and half-past three,y respectively; and the lands g and h are still longer to enable it to strike four and halfpast four, respectively. Thus, the lands increase successively by twos around the periphery of the wheel 62, as indicated in Fig. 5, until the lands w and m compensate for the time necessary to enable the clock to strike twelve and half-past twelve, respectively.

Vile now come to the means carried by the clock, and adapted to engage the notches as 63 for striking olf the hours and halfhours. Fast upon the minute shaft 25 near the. rear end thereof and upon oppositely disposed sides thereof are the angular contact pins 65. Revolubly secured in the skeleton frame below the minute shaft 25 is a rock-shaft 66, to which is rigidly secured the following pins z-a pin 67 which extends outwardly through a suitable opening in the skeleton frame, and which is prolonged into an outwardly projecting end of .suitable size and form for engagement with the notches as 63 of the governing wheel 62; a pin 68 which projects upwardly and engages with the end of a bell crank lever to be later described; and a pin 69 which pro jects upwardly and is provided with an angular end suitable for engaging the notch 51 in the disk wheel 50. The said pins 67 and 69 are so projected from the rock-shaft that they are adapted respectively to engage and disengage simultaneously with the notches 63 of the wheel 62 and the said notch 51 of the disk wheel 50.

is best shown in Fig. 1, a bell crank lever 70 is pivoted to a fixed post 71. The upper arm of this lever is adapted to contact with a xed post 72 whereby to limit its upward movement, while to the lower arm of said lever is secured a spring plate 73 which lies in the path of the angular contacts 65 for engagement thereby, the said spring plate 73 serving when engaged thereby to cause the end of bell crank lever 70 to impinge upon the vertical pin 68, turning the rock-shaft 66 for the disengagement of the lever 67 from a notch as 63, simultaneously with the disengagement of the pin 69 from the notch 5l of the disk 50. A wire spring 74 fast to one arm of the bell crank lever 70 and at the other end to the post 71, serves to hold said bell crank lever in that position that its lower arm is in contact with the pin 68. Another wire spring 75 fast at one end upon the pin 67 and at the other end to a fixed portion of the skeleton frame 10, serves to maintain the rock-shaft 66 in such position that the pins 67 and 69 are normally held, respectively in a notch as 63 of the wheel 62, and in the notch 51 of the disk 50.

The purpose of the second system of wheels or clock-train is to cause a hammer 76 to strike a blow or blows upon a bell (not shown) having a sound or tone different from that of bell 35. The hammer 76 is carried on the end of the hammer rod 77, the opposite end of which is ixedly secured to the end of a rock-shaft 78, rotatably mounted in the end of the skeleton frame in front of the pin wheel 46. Fixedly secured to this rock-shaft 78, and projecting inwardly past the periphery of the pin wheel 46 so as to engage successively the pins 47 thereof, is a tilting rod 79. As the pin wheel 46 revolves away from the rock-shaft 78, as best shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the rod 79, resting upon a pin as 47, is carried upward by the rotation of the pin wheel so as to turn the rockshaft 78 and raise the hammer 76. When the pin wheel 46 has revolved far enough, the rod 79 slides 0E the rear of a pin as 47, and, under the weight of' the hammer 76 or a suitable pull spring, is drawn down upon the next succeeding pin for the next operation. Every time the pins 79 thus slides oi a pin as 47, the hammer 76 drops and strikes a blow upon its bell.

1n the operation of the construction herein considered, one of the angular contacts 65, carried by the minute shaft 25, impinges upon the spring plate 73 of the bell crank lever 70, on the hour while the other contact 65 similarly impinges said plate on the halfhour. With each impingement the pin 67 is removed from a notch as 63 simultaneously with the disengagement of the lever 69 from the notched disk wheel 50. This releases the mechanism for operation so that it can actuate the hammer 76 and revolve the governing wheel 62, both of which elements continue to operate until the governing wheel 62 has revolved sufiiciently to permit the pin 67, under the tension of the sprlng 7 5, to enter the next succeeding notch as 63, this latter movement producing the engagement of the pin 69 with the notched disk 50 and so locking the mechanism again. Progressively increasing the sections or lands by twos enables the governing wheel 62 to permit the hammer 76 to strike one blow for one oclock and one blow for halfpast one; two blows for two oclock and two blows for half-past two; and so on progressively throughout the twelve hours.

As already stated, the pin wheel 27 makes one exact revolution every three hours, and the equi-spaced pins 28 thereon are so placed with respect to the turning movements of the angular contacts 65 that one pin as 28 disengages the end of the rod 33 simultaneously with the disengagement of one of thel contacts 65 with the spring plate 73. Now, each time before a pin as 28 is disengaged from the end of the rod 33, the inclined rod 36 will have been drawn over the corner of the skeleton frame 10 with the inwardly projecting end 37 in engagement with the fan element 58, as best shown in Fig. 2; so that, even though the pins 67 and 69 have been disengaged from their respective notches, that striking mechanism will be held locked, by' the locking of the tan 58, until the hammer 34 falls to strike a blow upon its bell 35. rIhus, on each half-hour, the hammer 3l strikes a blow upon the bell 35 a moment or so before the regular striking mechanism is actuated.

Vhile in the foregoing description and in the accompanying drawings, I have shown a mechanism for differentiating, by sounds and by strokes, between the half-hours and the hours, it will be obvious that the saine method may be employed with the introduction of the proper parts and with the proper changes in the gearing ratios, for similarly indicating and differentiating between the quarter-hour and the three-quarter-honr,divisions of time.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:-

In a striking attachment :for clocks, the combination with a trip wheel and a fan wheel supported for rotation upon parallel axes, the latter being supported in a plane higher than and to one side of the former, and independent means for driving them; a disk pivoted for rocking movement below said trip wheel, a striking arm secured eccentrically to said disk, the lower portion of said arm below said disk being bent at an angle, an angular locking arm rigidly connected with said striking arm above said disk and extending in the path oi' said fan wheel, resilient means combined with said locking arm to normally maintain the same out of engagement with said fan wheel with the striking arm in the path of said trip wheel whereby, when the striking arm is tripped, the locking arm will be drawn into the path of said fan wheel locking the same against movement, and means combined with the lower end of said striking arm for delivering a blow under the tension of said resilient means after each tripping action.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specilication.

.JOSEPH LAPONE.

Copie; of this patent may be obtained for vve cents each, by addressing the Gommissoner of Patents,

` Washington, D. C. 

